1250 ED clinicians nationwide using AI-powered scribe

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

An AI-powered scribe is live in every Emergency Department (ED) nationwide with 1250 clinicians using it and another 1000 licenses being added to support mental health teams.

Health Minister Simeon Brown announced in October that the scribe would be rolled out to 1,000 doctors and frontline staff working in EDs across New Zealand.

That number of users was extended to 1250 and Health New Zealand is now progressing approval of more than 1000 additional licences, predominantly for use by mental health teams.

The Minister says, “this places New Zealand among the fastest health systems in the world to move from pilot to nationwide frontline AI use in emergency departments, helping clinicians spend more time with patients and less time on paperwork.”

A pilot at Hawke's Bay ED last year involved 10 clinicians across two months using the Heidi AI scribe and showed significant productivity gains alongside improvements in staff wellbeing. 

Results showed doctors using the AI tool were able to see, on average, one additional patient per shift as a result of time saved on documentation.

Chief medical officer at Hawke’s Bay Benjamin Pearson and ED clinical director Simon Harger presented on the pilot at Digital Health Week NZ in November 26, 2025. 

Its use there as expanded to the entire ED including all senior medical officers, resident medical officers, nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, plus medical registrars.

Pearson said staff have reported a reduction in burnout in both ED and outpatient settings from an average of six out of 10 before the tool was introduced, down to three out of 10 and it has been particularly beneficial for nursing staff who previously hand wrote their notes.

The national roll-out was delivered by HealthX – a programme of monthly delivery of digital solutions focused on addressing the five health targets plus mental health pressures and led by director of digital innovation and AI, Sonny Taite.

Brown says that after one month of use at Middlemore Emergency Department, 80 per cent of surveyed staff said the AI scribe improved productivity or efficiency, and 84 per cent said it had a positive impact on their overall experience and wellbeing during a shift.

Brown says AI will never replace the skills of doctors, but has a role to play in supporting them so they can focus on putting patients first. 

“We will continue investing in digital technology that puts patients at the centre of the healthcare system, improving access to care, and delivering better health outcomes for New Zealanders,” he says.

Image: Health Minister Simeon Brown

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